YSRC chief Jagan Mohan Reddy injured in knife attack at Vizag

VISAKHAPATNAM: YSR Congress

leader Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was Thursday injured when a man attacked him with a small knife at the airport

lounge here, official sources said. Reddy, the leader of the opposition in the Andhra Pradesh assembly, received a minor injury on his shoulder and is doing fine, they said.

YSRC, in a statement, claimed the cafeteria at the Visakhapatnam airport was owned by ruling Telugu Desam Party leader Harshavardhan, who was aspiring to contest the next election from the district.

State DGP R P Thakur said the attacker was identified as J Srinivasa Rao (30), working as a waiter in the cafeteria at the Visakhapatnam airport.

The incident occurred around 12.30 p.m, he said, adding CISF personnel immediately apprehended the attacker and handed him over to the police after questioning.

Reddy later left for Hyderabad. Police said the knife used in the attack was one generally used in cockfights.

CISF officials said the incident happened in the check-in area which is before the security frisking booth.

“The man was immediately apprehended by the Assistant Commandant-rank officer who was present there. Such an incident has happened for the first time in the airport area, and we will now devise measures as to how such incidents can be thwarted. Preventive measures will be deployed,” a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officer said in New Delhi.

State Deputy Chief Minister (Home) N China Rajappa condemned the attack. A senior police official here said Srinivas approached Jagan for a selfie as the YSR Congress chief got up to leave the lounge to board the aircraft to Hyderabad.